Communication Issues for Researchers
A scientific researcher faces many obstacles while trying to conduct a research project. The researcher’s inability to communicate clearly what he or she is trying to do can result in difficulties throughout the process. Grant applications to fund projects and scientific papers to document results are often as important as the work itself. Besides standard written documentation and applications, a researcher will develop oral presentations for various stakeholders as part of the process. PowerPoint slide decks and scientific posters will also be developed to support discussion with visual media. This paper will address some of the problems that researchers face in successfully communicating their work to their audiences – collaborative groups of research team members, funding source administrators, institutional leadership and support, research colleagues in their respective fields, the general public and more Lack of communication, miscommunication, or poor communication will negatively affect the research endeavor as a whole, and have a consequential impact on the health of our global society. Poor communication from researchers is relevant and worthy of consideration.
Defining Researcher Communication Issues.
Rubenson (2013) points to several problems leading to communication issues including lack of preparation by overcommitted researchers, massive growth in the biomedical research enterprise, pressure to produce multiple publications, and vocabularies created by highly specialized language among sub-disciplines. In one of his examples of communication issues among peers, Rubenson points to the poorly prepared slides and rushed presentations of researchers that only they can unders...
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...ieved from http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/34196/title/Opinion--Communication-Crisis-in-Research/
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Overall, John M. Barry was able to define and characterize scientific research. Using rhetorical strategies such as, comparison, specific diction, and contrast Barry is able to show how scientific research is uncertainty
The most successful approaches to the public’s acceptance of scientific information are the cues from political leaders, persuasive syntax, the use of narratives, and research into a scientific source’s
Albert Einstein declared, “The most important thing is to never stop questioning.” Questions help extend our knowledge by opening our minds to change and new possibilities. The excerpt talks about the mindset that scientists need to become successful and the process they go through to make new discoveries. In The Great Influenza, John M. Barry educates citizens of the everyday challenges that scientists face through utilizing rhetorical questions, cause and effect, and contrast.
...om society. Although Bishop makes no excuses for the shortcomings of science and academia, he delivers an ominous message to those who would attack the scientific community: Science is the future. Learn to embrace it or be left behind.
...s necessary in order for the communication to be effective. Without knowing how bacteria communicated her team couldn’t have furthered their research. Only through collaboration and a team effort it was possible for them to end up with such an important discovery. Like bacteria, communication is critical to human function which is done through the use of language. Like bacteria, humans work effectively through communication. Like bacteria, humans are social organisms – they use their language to communicate with each other. And like bacteria, humans live in a community. So, an underlying message of Bassler’s presentation on bacterial language is that effective communication is critical to human life as well and that programs like TED serves as a platform to “make a difference” through communication for the simple reason that it increases collaboration and success.
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Cooper, Lawrence, Cary Murphy. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Chicago: Taylor & Francis, 1996
There will be conversations with peers and professors in which every student must be able to voice their own opinion while also taking other opinions and thoughts into consideration. Being open to new perspectives and learning from them is the best way to become well-rounded and to learn how to think outside of one’s own comfort zone. Professional communication should be scholarly especially when writing papers or research. The goal is to be as clear and precise as possible so that anyone can easily understand what it is being said. Professional communication should also be clear of any prejudice and for the most part clear of bias. On the other hand, personal background experiences could shed light on new topics for other
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Smith, Michelle R. “Giving Female Scientists Their Due.” Philly.com. The Philadelphia Inquirer, 17 Oct. 2013. Web. 05 Mar. 2014.
Many scholars agree that technical communication, although considered a professional writing genre, could still be defined as separate from the communication used by business professionals (e.g. professors, business people, doctors, lawyers, etc.) To begin to understand writing in the workplace, one could start by defining what collaboration in the workplace is. Scholars Burnett, et al. describe collaboration in the workplace as communication that occurs across project groups, departments, divisions and other social configurations. This communication serves as a process that allows peers, specifically co-workers in this instance to interact and work together to achieve shared goals, both before and after the production of a text or document. Collaboration is important in the workplace because it enables social interaction amongst coworkers and encourages workers to communicate, help one another, and form productive relationships. Effective collaboration in the workplace has been proven to produce a happier, more productive
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Sesta, Jenny. "Enhancing reflection and wonderings through reciprocal journal writing: making student voice visible." Practically Primary 13.2 (2008): 32+. Educator's Reference Complete. Web. 22 Feb. 2011.